Gezicht op de haven van Dordrecht c. 1885 - 1930

Max Alexander Alandt made this print of the port of Dordrecht and its moody sky at an unknown date. It’s all in these inky blacks and grays, like a stormy thought. See how the ink seems to build up in layers, particularly around the tower, and the ways the light seems to flicker on the water? The surface feels active and alive, like he’s not just depicting a place, but trying to capture a feeling, a memory maybe. Look at the texture in the water and how the marks are loose but distinct, creating a sense of movement. You can almost smell the river. The way Alandt is using etching reminds me of some of Whistler’s prints—that same focus on atmosphere and a kind of poetic realism, but with a bit more grit. Art is all about borrowing and remixing, right? Finding your own voice in the conversation.